000 AXNT20 KNHC 301704 TWDAT Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1204 PM EST Sun Dec 30 2018 Tropical Weather Discussion for North America, Central America Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, northern sections of South America, and Atlantic Ocean to the African coast from the Equator to 32N. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar and meteorological analysis. Based on 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1645 UTC. ...SPECIAL FEATURES... ...CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING... Strong to near gale force trade winds will prevail across the Central Caribbean through Fri, increasing to gale force along the NW coast of Colombia late each night through the middle of each morning before diminishing. Please refer to the High Seas forecast product under the AWIPS/WMO headers HSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC for more details. ...MONSOON TROUGH/ITCZ... The ITCZ extends from the coast of Africa near 07N13W to 06N20W to 01N40W to the coast of Brazil near 01S46W. Scattered moderate convection is within 210 nm either side of the ITCZ between 13W and 41W. GULF OF MEXICO... A stationary front extends from SE Louisiana near 29N90W to a 1014 mb low near 26N95W to the coast of Veracruz, Mexico near 19N96W. Although there is no significant convection associated with the front, dense fog continue to be reported west of the front, over the NW Gulf waters all the way south to the western Bay of Campeche. Fresh to strong winds are also west of the front S of 24N and will prevail through early Mon as the front drift W towards the coast of Texas while weakening. Winds ahead of the stationary front are gentle to moderate from the SE. However, winds are forecast to become locally fresh by early Mon ahead of the next cold front coming off Texas near 0900 UTC. The front will reach from the Mississippi Delta to Veracruz Mexico on Tue and stall from the western Florida Panhandle to Veracruz on Tue night through Wed morning. The front will move E again on Wed night reaching a position from the Florida Big Bend to the Bay of Campeche on Thu, and move E of the area on Thu night. Strong to near gale force northerly winds are forecast to develop across the western gulf waters on Tue night, increasing to minimal gale force along the Mexican coast near Tampico on Wed night. These minimal gale conditions will shift S along the Mexican coast near Veracruz on Thu. CARIBBEAN SEA... Refer to the special features section for details about the Gale Warning for the south-central Caribbean. Locally strong nocturnal trades are forecast across the western Gulf of Honduras through Tue night. Otherwise, moderate to fresh trades expected elsewhere through Fri. ATLANTIC OCEAN... A 1025 mb high centered near 27N60W covers the waters of the SW N Atlc and central Atlc supporting fair weather and light to gentle winds N of 22N W of 43W. South of 22N, the gradient slightly tightens with lower pressure in the Caribbean, thus supporting moderate to fresh NE to E winds. Over the NE waters, a cold front extends from 30N26W to 24N30W to 20N35W where it stalls and starts to dissipate all the way to the central Lesser Antilles. Isolated showers and tstms are within 90 nm east of the front mainly north of of 29N. The aforementioned ridge will shift S today allowing a weak cold front to move slowly into the northern waters. The front will stall and gradually dissipate from 28N65W to 31N74W through Mon night. Moderate to locally fresh southerly flow will set up N of the ridge on Tue ahead of a second cold front moving off the N Florida coast early Wed. This second front will be reinforced on Thu with locally strong southwest flow ahead of the front. This second front will reach from Bermuda to the Central Bahamas on Fri. For additional information please visit http://www.hurricanes.gov/marine $$ Ramos